Social Learning Information You Must Be aware of -

Social learning is often a bit hazy. Isn't all learning "social" at least in one way?

If we overthink the semantics then social learning can seem somewhat redundant.

The textbook definition for the concept of social learning follows as follows:

The social learning Theory (Albert Bandura) posits that the process of learning is a cognitive process that occurs within an social environment and may happen solely through observation or direct instruction, regardless of motor reproduction or direct reinforcement.

In simpler terms the social learning process happens when we learn (or hear) about new ideas.

In other words, there is no need to perform physical exercises with these innovative strategies to be able to apply these ideas.

When people exchange ideas, they learn. The sharing is usually informal in various contexts, even digital such as on social networks.

Even though the definition of social learning may be hard to comprehend, the effect that it could have on an organization is pretty substantial.

The infographic below (created in collaboration with Bloomfire) is a summary of some of the benefits that can come from consciously implementing a social learning program in your business.

It shouldn't come as a surprise to learners that the majority of them claim to be able to learn faster (and frequently) by using informal methods. Yet despite this, many companies are still willing to invest heavily in more formal education.

Ultimately I think organizations require a combination of formal as well as informal (social) learning opportunities. Given that social learning is often how the majority of people learn and develop their skills, it's probably a great idea for companies to understand their own culture of social learning and ways of fostering this.